JP2018045075A - Powder storage container, developing unit, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powder storage container that prevents powder from adhering to an outer surface of an opening/closing member, a developing unit, and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A powder storage container comprises: a storage chamber that stores inside a powder; a discharge path that penetrates a wall of the storage chamber and discharges the powder; an inner wall that forms an inner surface of the wall and has an opening of the discharge path pierced therein; an outer wall that forms an outer surface of the wall and has the opening of the discharge path pierced therein; and an opening/closing member that is located between the inner wall and the outer wall and moves along the inner wall and outer wall to open/close the discharge path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder container, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that develops a latent image with a developing device to form an image is known, and as such a developing device, a developing device that contains a powder developer therein is known. Such a developing device is a kind of powder container, together with a toner cartridge that stores toner supplied to the developing device, a storage box that stores unnecessary toner collected in the image forming apparatus, and the like. .

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a developer replenishing container and an image forming apparatus that improve assembly and operability with a simple configuration and are excellent in sealing performance. In this image forming apparatus, after the toner container is inserted to a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, when the container main body is rotated counterclockwise by the handle, the shutter support member is disposed on the image forming apparatus. When the engagement with the lock part is released by the mating release member and further rotated, the lock part is engaged and fixed, and the replenishing port and the opening of the shutter are aligned, and the toner inside the container is moved to the developer side. Discharge.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique that can reduce the number of times of maintenance of the replenishing means and the storage means, simplify the structure of the second unit, and prevent toner spilling when the replenishment toner storage unit is replaced. Proposed. In this technique, a toner supply port and a toner discharge port of a transfer spiral are arranged on one end side in the developer conveyance direction of the developing unit, and a first rotatable shutter unit that opens and closes the toner discharge port of the supply toner storage unit. And a second shutter means that is slidably provided on the outside of the first shutter means and opens and closes the toner discharge port of the replenishment toner storage unit together with the first shutter means.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 3 proposes a developing device that can prevent toner leakage even after the developer tank is repeatedly attached and detached. In this developing device or the like, a rotary shutter that opens and closes the supply opening in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the developing tank is rotatable between a supply opening formed in the toner replenishing device and a receiving opening formed in the developing tank. It is supported. The rotary shutter closes the supply opening by covering the supply opening with the outer peripheral surface of the roller, and opens the supply opening by communicating the supply opening and the receiving opening through the opening.

JP-A-11-212349 JP 2002-091150 A JP 2008-224777 A

  However, in the prior art, there is a risk that powder adheres to the outer surface of the opening / closing member as the opening / closing member opens and closes, and the attached powder peels off when the opening / closing member is closed.

  An object of this invention is to prevent the powder adhesion with respect to the outer surface of an opening-and-closing member.

The powder container according to claim 1 is:
A storage chamber containing powder inside;
A discharge passage through the wall of the storage chamber to discharge the powder;
An inner wall forming the inner surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
Forming an outer surface of the wall, and an outer wall in which an opening of the discharge passage is formed;
An opening and closing member that is located between the inner wall and the outer wall, and that opens and closes the discharge passage by moving along the inner wall and the outer wall;
It is provided with.

The powder container according to claim 2 is the powder container of claim 1,
The opening / closing member has an opening located between the opening of the inner wall and the opening of the outer wall when the discharge passage is opened;
The opening of the inner wall is smaller than the opening of the opening / closing member, the opening of the outer wall is larger than the opening of the opening / closing member, and the edges of the openings do not intersect with each other when the discharge passage is open. To do.

The powder container according to claim 3 is the powder container according to claim 1 or 2,
A blocking member is provided that prevents the powder from entering between the opening / closing member and the inner wall.

The developing device according to claim 4 is:
A storage chamber that stores therein a powdery developer for developing the latent image;
A discharge passage that passes through the wall of the storage chamber and discharges the developer;
An inner wall forming the inner surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
Forming an outer surface of the wall, and an outer wall in which an opening of the discharge passage is formed;
An opening and closing member that is located between the inner wall and the outer wall, and that opens and closes the discharge passage by moving along the inner wall and the outer wall;
It is provided with.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 5
An image carrier that forms an image on the surface and holds the image;
A latent image forming device for forming a latent image on the surface of the image carrier;
A developing device for developing the latent image with a powdery developer;
A transfer unit for transferring an image developed by the developing unit from the image carrier onto a recording material;
With
The developer is
A storage chamber containing the developer therein;
A discharge passage that passes through the wall of the storage chamber and discharges the developer;
An inner wall forming the inner surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
Forming an outer surface of the wall, and an outer wall in which an opening of the discharge passage is formed;
An opening and closing member that is located between the inner wall and the outer wall, and that opens and closes the discharge passage by moving along the inner wall and the outer wall;
It is provided with.

  According to the powder container of the first aspect, it is possible to prevent the powder from adhering to the outer surface of the opening / closing member.

  According to the powder container of the second aspect, it is possible to prevent the powder from adhering to the opening / closing member and the edge of the opening of the outer wall.

  According to the powder container according to claim 3, it is possible to prevent the gap between the opening / closing member and the inner wall from being contaminated with powder.

  According to the developing device of the fourth aspect and the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, it is possible to prevent the developer from adhering to the outer surface of the opening / closing member.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a top view of a developing device. It is sectional drawing which follows the arrow AA shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of a developing device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of a circle R2 shown in FIG. 4B of the developing device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a circle R1 shown in FIG. 4A of the developing device. It is sectional drawing which follows the arrow BB shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a mechanism for preventing developer spillage. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the sealing member which is another example of the prevention member. It is sectional drawing which follows the arrow CC shown in FIG. 2 of a developing device. It is an enlarged view of the part of circle R3 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a collection box that appears when a door provided on a housing of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is opened. It is the figure which showed the internal structure of the collection | recovery box.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors are arranged in parallel. The tandem type color printer is adapted to print a full color image composed of the four color toner images and also to print a single color image using only black (K), for example.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an exposure unit 20 that irradiates each of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K with exposure light, and an intermediate transfer in which toner images are transferred from the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K of the respective colors. A belt 30, a secondary transfer device 50 for transferring a toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 30 to a sheet, a fixing device 60 for fixing the toner image to the sheet, a belt cleaner 70 for recovering toner from the intermediate transfer belt 30, and a sheet Is provided with a sheet conveying section 80 for conveying the sheet, a control section 90 for controlling the operation of each section in the image forming apparatus 1, and a sheet tray C for accommodating the sheet P. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K that store toner of each color of YMCK, and toners in the toner cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K as image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K. Toner supply devices 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K are also provided.

  Since the four image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K have substantially the same configuration, the image forming unit 10Y corresponding to yellow will be described as a representative example here. The image forming unit 10Y includes a photoreceptor 11Y, a charger 12Y, a developer 14Y, a primary transfer unit 15Y, and a photoreceptor cleaner 16Y. The photoreceptor 11Y has a cylindrical surface, holds an image formed on the surface, and rotates in the direction of arrow a around the axis of the cylinder. The photoreceptor 11Y corresponds to an example of the image carrier in the present invention. The same applies to the other photoconductors 11M, 11C, and 11K.

  The charger 12Y has a charging roll that rotates while contacting the photoconductor 11Y, and charges the surface of the photoconductor 11Y.

  A developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier is accommodated in the developing device 14Y. The developing device 14Y includes a developing roll 146Y, and the developing roll 146Y conveys the developer to the photoreceptor 11Y. The toner of the developer adheres to the photoconductor 11Y, whereby a toner image is formed on the photoconductor 11Y. The developing device 14Y is replenished with new toner from the toner cartridge 18Y by the toner supply device 19Y. The developing device 14Y corresponds to an embodiment of the powder container of the present invention and also corresponds to an embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.

  A toner transport mechanism (not shown) that is driven by the control of the control unit 90 is provided in the toner supply device 19Y.

  The primary transfer unit 15Y transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor 11Y to the intermediate transfer belt 30. The photoreceptor cleaner 16Y cleans the surface of the photoreceptor 11Y after transfer.

  The exposure device 20 emits exposure light based on an image signal supplied from the outside, and exposes the photoreceptors 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K with the emitted light.

  The intermediate transfer belt 30 is an endless belt-like member supported by belt support rolls 31, 32, 33, and 34, and a circulation path that passes through the image forming units 10 </ b> Y, 10 </ b> M, 10 </ b> C, and 10 </ b> K and the secondary transfer unit 50. Move around in the direction of arrow b. The intermediate transfer belt 30 transfers and holds toner images of each color formed by the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K.

  The secondary transfer device 50 is a roll that rotates with the intermediate transfer belt 30 and the paper sandwiched between it and the backup roll 34 that is one of the belt support rolls 31 to 34. A voltage that generates an electric field for transferring toner is supplied between the secondary transfer device 50 and the backup roll 34, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 30 is transferred onto the sheet.

  The belt cleaner 70 brings a blade into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 30 to remove toner on the intermediate transfer belt 30.

  The fixing device 60 includes a heating roll 61 and a pressure roll 62, and fixes the toner image on the paper by passing the paper on which the toner image before fixing is formed.

  The paper transport unit 80 takes out the paper P from the paper tray C and transports it along the paper transport path r passing through the secondary transfer device 50 and the fixing device 60. The paper transport unit 80 includes a pickup roll 81 that picks up the paper P stored in the paper tray C, a scooping roll 82 that picks up the picked-up paper P, a transport roll 83 that transports the picked paper P upward, and the paper P A registration roll 84 that conveys the sheet P to the secondary transfer unit 50, a discharge roll 86 that discharges the sheet P to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1, and reverse conveyance rolls 88 and 89 that convey the sheet P during duplex printing are provided. Yes.

  The basic operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  In the yellow image forming unit 10Y, the photoconductor 11Y is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow a, and a charge is applied to the surface of the photoconductor 11Y by the charger 12Y. The same applies to the image forming units 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to colors other than yellow. The exposure device 20 irradiates the photoconductors 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K with exposure light corresponding to data corresponding to each color in the image signal. Here, yellow (Y) will be described as a representative. The exposure device 20 forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 11Y by irradiating the surface of the photoconductor 11Y with exposure light based on an image signal corresponding to yellow among image signals supplied from the outside. . The developing device 14Y forms a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer containing yellow toner. Toner 14Y is supplied with toner from toner cartridge 18Y by toner supply device 19Y. The photoconductor 11Y rotates while holding the yellow toner image formed on the surface. The toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 11Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 30 by the primary transfer unit 15Y that applies a transfer potential between the photoreceptor 11Y and the intermediate transfer belt 30. After the transfer, the toner remaining on the photoconductor 11Y is collected by the photoconductor cleaner 16Y and removed from the photoconductor 11Y.

  The image forming units 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to colors other than yellow form toner images corresponding to the respective colors in the same manner as the image forming unit 10Y corresponding to yellow, and each primary transfer unit 15M, 15C, In 15K, the toner image of each color is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 30 so as to overlap the yellow toner image. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 30 moves toward the secondary transfer unit 50 as the intermediate transfer belt 30 rotates.

  On the other hand, the paper P in the paper tray C is taken out by the pick-up roll 81, and the paper transport path r is moved in the direction of the arrow c toward the secondary transfer device 50 by the separating roll 82, the transport roll 83, and the registration roll 84. Be transported. The sheet P is sent to the secondary transfer unit 50 by the registration roll 84 in accordance with the timing at which the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 30 moves to the secondary transfer unit 50.

  The secondary transfer device 50 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 30 to the paper P by applying a transfer bias potential between the intermediate transfer belt 30 and the paper P. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 30 after the transfer by the secondary transfer device 50 is removed by the belt cleaner 70.

  The paper P on which the toner image is transferred by the secondary transfer device 50 is conveyed to the fixing device 60, and the toner image transferred on the paper P is fixed. In this way, an image is formed on the paper P. The sheet P on which the image is formed is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 by the discharge roll 86 and is stacked on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the case of double-sided printing in which an image is also formed on the back side of the paper on which the image is formed on the front surface, the discharge roll 86 discharges the paper P halfway from the paper discharge port and then conveys it in the reverse direction. . The sheet P conveyed in the reverse direction is conveyed upstream of the registration roll 84 by the reverse conveyance rolls 88 and 89 via the reverse conveyance path r '. The conveyed paper P is turned upside down by the time it reaches the registration roll 84, is sent again from the registration roll 84 to the secondary transfer device 50, and an image is also formed on the back side.

  Details of the developing device 14 will be described below.

  The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes four developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, all of which have substantially the same configuration. Therefore, in the following description, the Y, M, C, and K symbols representing the color of the toner are removed and the developer 14 is simply referred to. The same applies to each component of the developing device 14. The same applies to the components other than the developing unit 14 when described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the developing device 14.

  FIG. 2 shows an upper surface of the developing device 14, and a toner supply port 147 that opens upward is formed in the housing 140 of the developing device 14. Further, a developer discharge port is also formed in the housing 140 of the developing device 14, but this developer discharge port is an opening opened downward, and is not shown in FIG. The toner supply port 147 and the developer discharge port will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow AA shown in FIG.

  The developing device 14 is provided with a housing chamber in the housing 140 that is divided into a first chamber 141 and a second chamber 142 and each stores developer. In this storage chamber, the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142 are partitioned by a partition wall 143. The first chamber 141 is provided with a supply auger 144, and the second chamber 142 is provided with an admix auger 145. The supply auger 144 and the admix auger 145 both extend in a bar shape, and are arranged horizontally and parallel to each other. The supply auger 144 has a rotary shaft 144a having a circular cross section, and a spiral blade 144b extending along the rotary shaft 144a while turning around the rotary shaft 144a while drawing a spiral. Similarly to the supply auger 144, the admix auger 145 also includes a rotary shaft 145a having a circular cross section, and a spiral blade 145b extending along the rotary shaft 145a while turning around the rotary shaft 145a. Have. The supply auger 144 and the admix auger 145 are each provided with a spiral blade other than the spiral blades 144b and 145b shown in FIG. 3, but the description thereof is omitted here.

  The supply auger 144 and the admix auger 145 rotate in the directions of arrows e and f, which are the same rotation directions as shown in FIG. The spiral blade 144b of the supply auger 144 and the spiral blade 145b of the admix auger 145 are spiral blades swirling in opposite directions, and the supply auger 144 and the admix auger 145 are indicated by arrows e and f in FIG. When rotating in the same rotation direction, the developers in the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142 are conveyed in opposite directions while being stirred. That is, the developer in the first chamber 141 where the supply auger 144 is arranged is conveyed in the direction of the arrow g shown in FIG. 2 by the rotation of the supply auger 144 in the direction of arrow e, and the admix auger 145 is arranged. The developer in the second chamber 142 is conveyed in the direction of arrow h shown in FIG. 2 by the rotation of the admix auger 145 in the direction of arrow f.

  On the other hand, two windows (not shown) that connect the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142 are formed at both ends of the partition wall 143 that partitions the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142. Therefore, the developer in the first chamber 141 that has been transported in the direction of the arrow g flows into the second chamber 142 through one window, and the developer in the second chamber 142 that has been transported in the direction of the arrow h. The developer flows into the first chamber 142 through the other window. In this way, the developer in the developing device 14 circulates in the first chamber 141 and the second chamber 142.

  The developing device 14 includes a developing roll 146 at a position adjacent to the first chamber 141 in which the supply auger 144 is disposed. A part of the developing roll 146 is exposed from the housing 140. The developing device 14 is disposed in the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) so that the exposed portion of the developing roll 146 is close to the photoconductor 11.

  The developing roll 146 causes the developer in the first chamber 141 to adhere to the surface of the first chamber 141 by a magnetic force, rotates in the direction of the arrow d, and conveys the developer to a position facing the photoconductor 11. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 11 is developed with toner in the developer, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 11. On the other hand, the developer adhering to the surface of the developing roll 146 after developing with the toner returns to the inside of the housing 140 as the developing roll 146 rotates, leaves the developing roll 146, and is in the first chamber 141. Together with the other developer, the developer is agitated while being circulated through the developer 14.

  When the development with toner as described above is repeated, the toner in the developer inside the developing device 14 decreases. Therefore, the developing device 14 is provided with a toner supply port 147 (see FIG. 2) for receiving toner, and the toner in the toner cartridge 18 shown in FIG. Supplied. The toner supply port 147 is further upstream of the second chamber 142 in which the admix auger 145 is disposed than the window through which the developer flows from the first chamber 141 (the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow h). Is provided. The admix auger 145 extends to a position where the toner supply port 147 is provided, and the toner supplied from the toner supply port 147 is conveyed downstream (in the direction indicated by the arrow h) in the second chamber 142. Thus, the developer that has flowed in through the window of the partition wall 143 merges and is conveyed further downstream (in the direction indicated by the arrow h) in the second chamber 142.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the developing device. Here, FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the shape of the developing device 14 as viewed from the direction in which the upper surface appears. FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the shape of the developing device 14 as viewed from the direction in which the lower surface appears.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of a circle R2 shown in FIG. 4B of the developing device.

  FIG. 4B and FIG. 5 show the developer discharge port 148. The developer discharge port 148 is an opening that is provided on the lower surface of the housing 140 of the developing device 14 and opens downward. This developer discharge port 148 is provided at the most upstream portion in the developer transport direction (the end opposite to the direction indicated by arrow g in FIG. 2) of the first chamber 141 in which the supply auger 144 is arranged. Yes. That is, the developer conveyed in the second chamber 142 in which the admix auger 145 is disposed in the direction indicated by the arrow h in FIG. 2 passes through the window provided in the partition wall 143 and is in the first chamber 141. However, the developer discharge port 148 is provided at a position further upstream from the window in the developer transport direction (the direction indicated by the arrow g in FIG. 2).

  In addition to the spiral blade 144b, the supply auger 144 disposed in the first chamber 141 transports the developer flowing into the first chamber 141 in the developer transport direction (the direction indicated by the arrow g in FIG. 2). The spiral blade 144c (see FIG. 12) whose spiral is swung in the opposite direction to the spiral blade 144b is upstream from the vicinity of the window where the developer flows into the first chamber 141 (see FIG. 2). It is provided on the side opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow g.

  For this reason, a part of the developer that has flowed into the first chamber 141 is pushed in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow g by the reverse spiral blade 144c, and moves to the upstream side. The toner is discharged from the outlet 148 to the outside of the developing device 14. The first chamber 141 corresponds to an example of a storage chamber according to the present invention, and the developer discharge port 148 corresponds to an example of a discharge passage according to the present invention.

  The developer in the developing device 14 is discharged little by little from the developer discharge port 148, and thereby excessive progress of deterioration due to stirring and conveyance of the developer in the developing device 14 is suppressed. From the developer discharge port 148, not only the toner but also the carrier is discharged together. For this reason, the toner supplied from the toner supply port 147, that is, the toner in the toner cartridge 18 (see FIG. 1) also includes a small amount of carrier for compensating for the decrease in the carrier.

  The developing device 14 is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. For this reason, the developing device 14 includes a shutter member 200 (FIG. 7) that closes and opens the developer discharging port 148 so that the developer does not spill out from the developer discharging port 148 when the developing device 14 is removed. , See FIG. 11). When the developing device 14 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1, an operation (described later) for closing the shutter member 200 and closing the developer discharge port 148 is performed, and an operation lever in a sideways posture shown in FIG. 149 is turned 90 ° to a vertical orientation. When the operation lever 149 is operated so as to be in the vertical orientation, the developing device 14 is slightly separated from the photoconductor 11 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). In this way, the developer discharge port 148 is blocked by the shutter member 200 and the operation lever 149 is operated so as to be in the vertical orientation. The developing unit 14 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow h shown in FIG. In this way, the developing device 14 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1.

  When the developing device 14 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, an operation opposite to that performed when the developing device 14 is removed is performed. That is, the developing device 14 is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 in the direction of the arrow g shown in FIG. 4 while the operation lever 149 is in the vertical orientation. Thereafter, the operation lever 149 is operated so as to be in the horizontal orientation shown in FIG. Further, an operation of opening the shutter member 200 that blocks the developer discharge port 148 is performed. The opening / closing operation of the shutter member 200 will be described later.

  6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a circle R1 shown in FIG. 4A of the developing device. Here, FIG. 6 (A) is an enlarged view of the portion of the circle R1, and FIG. 6 (B) is the gear cover shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 6 (A). FIG. 2 is a view showing a gear 241 that has been removed by 240 and covered by the gear cover 240.

  FIG. 6 shows a portion of the shutter member 200 that blocks the developer discharge port 148 (see FIG. 4) that appears on the outer surface of the developing device 14.

  The shutter member 200 is a substantially cylindrical member disposed at the most upstream end of the first chamber 141 (see FIG. 3) in the developer transport direction (the direction indicated by the arrow g in FIG. 2). . The portion of the first chamber 141 where the shutter member 200 is disposed has a double wall structure having a substantially cylindrical inner wall and an outer wall, and the shutter member 200 is located between the inner wall and the outer wall. It is placed between. The shutter member 200 slides in contact with the inner wall and the outer wall and rotates around the rotation axis of the supply auger 144 to open and close the developer discharge port 148.

  The shutter member 200 includes an opening / closing lever 201 shown in FIG. 6, and a spring member 209 is connected to the opening / closing lever 201. The open / close lever 201 shown in FIG. 6 is pressed downward by a member (not shown) of the collection box 301 (see FIGS. 12 and 13). At this time, the spring member 209 is in an extended state, and the shutter member 200 is in a posture in which the developer discharge port 148 is opened. The operation of closing the shutter member 200 described above is an operation of releasing the opening / closing lever 201 from the member by loosening the depression of the opening / closing lever 201 by the member of the collection box 301.

  When the opening / closing lever 201 is released, the spring member 209 is contracted, and the shutter member 200 is rotated accordingly, and the developer discharge port 148 is closed. That is, when the developing device 14 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1, the force from the member of the collection box 301 does not act on the opening / closing lever 201 of the shutter member 200, and the shutter member 200 has the spring member 209. A posture in which the developer discharge port 148 is closed by the urging force is maintained. When the developing device 14 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 and the developer discharge port 148 is opened, the member of the collection box 301 rotates the open / close lever 201 against the urging force of the spring member 209. Then, the state where the opening / closing lever 201 is pushed down is maintained. Thereby, the shutter member 200 maintains a posture in which the developer discharge port is opened.

  Further, the gear 241 shown in FIG. 6B rotates by receiving a rotational driving force from a driving source (not shown), and has a role of rotating the supply auger 144 and the admixing auger 145.

  7 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow BB shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows the developer discharge port 148 and the shutter member 200. The developer discharge port 148 is provided in the uppermost stream side portion of the first chamber 141 of the housing 140 of the developing device 14. In addition, the shutter member 200 is a member that is disposed in the most upstream portion of the first chamber 141. As shown in FIG. 7, the most upstream portion 141a (see also FIG. 12) in which the developer discharge port 148 of the first chamber 141 is provided and the shutter member 200 is disposed is circular in cross section. The inner wall 141b and the outer wall 141c are provided. The inner wall 141b and the outer wall 141c correspond to examples of the inner wall and the outer wall according to the present invention.

  The shutter member 200 disposed between the inner wall 141b and the outer wall 141c also has an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface having a circular cross section. The shutter member 200 rotates coaxially with the rotation shaft 144a of the supply auger 144 while sliding with the inner wall 141b and the outer wall 141c during the opening / closing operation for opening and closing the developer discharge port 148. The shutter member 200 corresponds to an example of the opening / closing member according to the present invention.

  The shutter member 200 shown in FIG. 7 is in the “open posture” with the developer discharge port 148 opened. The developer discharge port 148 extends from an inner wall opening 148a provided in the inner wall 141b to an outer wall opening 148b provided in the outer wall 141c. The shutter member 200 has a shutter opening 207. When the shutter member 200 is in the open position shown in FIG. 7, the shutter opening 207 is in a position where it is connected to the inner wall opening 148a and the outer wall opening 148b. Here, when the shutter opening 207 is narrower than the width of the outer wall opening 148b and is in the open posture shown in FIG. 7, the shutter opening 207 and the outer wall opening 148b are viewed in the direction of passage of the developer discharge port 148. Are arranged so that the edges do not cross each other. When the shutter opening 207 is wider than the inner wall opening 148a and is in the open position shown in FIG. 7, the shutter opening 207 and the inner wall opening 148a are viewed in the direction of passage of the developer discharge port 148. The arrangement is such that the edges do not cross each other. In other words, the shutter opening 207 is accommodated in the outer wall opening 148 b and the inner wall opening 148 a is accommodated in the shutter opening 207 when viewed in the direction of passage of the developer discharge port 148.

  For this reason, the developer passing through the developer discharge port 148 falls below the developer discharge port 148 with almost no staining of the edges of the shutter opening 207 and the outer wall opening 148b. The developer that has dropped downward is conveyed in the direction shown by arrow i in FIG. 13 in the waste toner conveyance cylinder 306 shown in FIG.

  Further, the structure in which the shutter member 200 is sandwiched between the inner wall 141b and the outer wall 141c prevents the developer from falling off in the “closed position” in which the shutter member 200 closes the developer discharge port 148. .

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a mechanism for preventing the developer from falling off.

  When the shutter member 200 is in the “closed posture”, the developer 300 may fall on the inner surface of the shutter member 200 from the first chamber 141 through the inner wall opening 148a of the inner wall 141b. The developer 300 that has fallen on the inner surface of the shutter member 200 in this manner is repeatedly changed between the “closed posture” and the “opened posture” of the shutter member 200, thereby causing the developer 300 to fall between the shutter member 200 and the inner wall 141 b. It becomes dirty 310 and adheres. However, the dirt 310 rarely reaches the outer wall 141c beyond the shutter opening 207 of the shutter member 200, and the outer surface of the shutter member 200 is kept clean. As a result, the developer is prevented from spilling out of the outer wall opening 148b when the developing device 14 is attached or detached.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shutter member 200 is made of a magnetic material and is a magnet. For this reason, since the rising of the developer 300 is generated by the magnetic force of the magnet, the developer 300 is prevented from entering between the shutter member 200 and the inner wall 141b. Therefore, there are few stain | pollution | contamination 310, and the spilling of a developer is prevented more completely. In the present embodiment, the shutter member 200 functions as an example of the blocking member according to the present invention. As another example of the blocking member according to the present invention, it is conceivable to provide a seal member that physically closes the space between the shutter member 200 and the inner wall 141b.

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a seal member which is another example of the blocking member.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, an inner wall seal member 320 fixed to the edge of the inner wall opening 148a and an outer wall seal member 330 fixed to the edge of the outer wall opening 148b are provided. The inner wall seal member 320 serves to block the gap between the inner surface of the shutter member 200 and the inner wall 141b to prevent the intrusion of the developer, and the development that has fallen on the inner surface of the shutter member 200 when the shutter member 200 is in the “closed position”. Agents are the main target for prevention. The inner wall seal member 320 corresponds to an example of a blocking member according to the present invention. On the other hand, the outer wall seal member 330 plays a role of blocking the gap between the outer surface of the shutter member 200 and the outer wall 141c to prevent the intrusion of the developer, and is rarely provided at the edge of the shutter opening 207 when the shutter member 200 is in the “open position”. The developer that adheres to the surface is the main target to be blocked.

  Providing such an inner wall seal member 320 and outer wall seal member 330 also prevents the developer from falling off more completely.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device along the arrow CC shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 10, the supply auger 144 is shown over its entire length. In the first chamber 141 in which the supply auger 144 is arranged, a window (partition wall 143 formed in the vicinity of the spiral blade 144c of the supply auger 144 from the second chamber (see FIG. 3) ( The developer flows through (not shown). The spiral blade 144c is a spiral blade swirling in the opposite direction to the spiral blade 144b that conveys the developer flowing into the first chamber 141 downstream (in the direction indicated by the arrow g), and has flowed in from the second chamber 142. A part of the developer is pushed further upstream by the spiral blade 144 c, and a part of the developer is discharged from the developer discharge port 148 through the most upstream portion 141 a of the first chamber 141.

  FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of a circle R3 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 shows an axial cross section with the shutter member 200. The shutter member 200 is disposed between the inner wall 141b and the outer wall 141c. Further, a groove 206 that is recessed over the entire circumference is formed on the outer wall surface of the shutter member 200, and an O-ring-like seal member 208 is fitted in the groove. This seal member is also in contact with the inner surface of the outer wall 141c. The seal member 208 is a member for ensuring that the toner in the developer does not leak to the gear 241 side through the gap between the inner surface of the outer wall 141c and the shutter member 200.

  Here, when the gear 241, which is a helical gear, receives a rotational driving force, a force in the rotational axis direction of the supply auger 144 is generated. Here, the rotation direction of the teeth of the helical gear is determined so that the rotation of the gear 241 generates a force opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow h. When the gear 241 rotates, the interposed member 242 is pressed by the force generated in the direction of the rotation axis, and the shutter member 200 is further pressed through the interposed member 242. Thereby, the shutter member 200 is positioned in the arrow h with respect to the inner wall 141b and the outer wall 141c.

  FIG. 12 is a view showing a collection box that appears when a door (not shown) provided in the housing of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

  The collection box 301 is housed in the image forming apparatus 1 so as to block the front side of the four image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, the intermediate transfer belt 30 and the belt cleaner 70 shown in FIG. Therefore, the collection box 301 is taken out from the image forming apparatus 1 prior to taking out the developing device 14 from the image forming apparatus 1, and is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 after the developing device 14 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1. .

  The collection box 301 is provided with an operation handle 302 and a waste toner tank 303. The operation handle 302 is an operator that is operated when the developing device 14 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1 and when the developing device 14 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1. When the developing device 14 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 1 is operating, the operation handle 302 is in a state of being rotated in the direction of the arrow k. FIG. 12 shows the operation handle 302 that is rotated in the direction of the arrow k. When the developing device 14 is taken out from the image forming apparatus 1, the operation handle 302 is rotated in the direction of the arrow j. Then, the shutter member 200 rotates, and the posture of the shutter member 200 shifts to a “closed posture” in which the developer discharge port 148 is closed. On the contrary, when the developing device 14 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, the operation handle 302 is rotated in the direction of the arrow k. Then, the shutter member 200 rotates, and the posture of the shutter member 200 becomes an “open posture” in which the developer discharge port 148 is opened.

  The collection box 301 is detachably attached to a main body frame (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1 by a snap fit.

  FIG. 13 shows the internal structure of the collection box.

  Here, there are shown a rack 304 and a total of eight pinion gears 305 that are arranged in two upper and lower stages and mesh with the rack 304. When the operation handle 302 is rotated in the direction of arrow j, the rack 304 moves in the direction of arrow m, and the pinion gears 305 that mesh with the rack 304 rotate in the direction of arrow p, respectively. The upper four pinion gears 305 are gears for opening and closing a shutter member (not shown) of the photoreceptor cleaner 16 (see FIG. 1). In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, not only the developing device 14 but also the photosensitive member 11 and the photosensitive member cleaner 16 are unitized, and the unit is also detachable. For this reason, a shutter member is provided that opens and closes an opening for discharging the waste toner collected by the photoconductor cleaner 16.

  The four pinion gears 305 on the lower side are gears that open and close the shutter member 200 that opens and closes the developer discharge port 148 of the developing device 14. When the operation handle 302 is in the posture rotated in the direction of the arrow k, the opening / closing lever 201 shown in FIG. 6 of the shutter member 200 is in a state of being pushed to the posture shown in FIG. In this state, the spring member 209 is in an extended state, and the shutter member 200 is in an open posture with the developer discharge port 148 opened. When the operation handle 302 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is rotated in the direction of the arrow j, the pinion gear 305 rotates in the direction of the arrow p, and the opening / closing lever 201 of the shutter member 200 is connected to the lower pinion gear 305. A member (not shown) that pushes down moves in a direction to loosen the presser of the opening / closing lever 201, and the shutter member 200 rotates to a closed posture in which the developer discharge port 148 is blocked by the biasing force of the spring member 209.

  When the developing device 14 is taken out, the developing device 14 is pulled out after the operation lever 149 is further operated to be in the vertical orientation. On the contrary, when the developing device 14 is mounted, the operation lever 149 is operated so as to be in a horizontal posture. Further, the collection box 301 (see FIG. 12) is attached, and the operation lever 303 is rotated in the direction of the arrow k. Then, the rack 304 and the pinion gear 305 shown in FIG. 13 move or rotate in directions opposite to the arrows m and p shown in FIG. By this operation, the opening / closing lever 201 shown in FIG. 6 of the shutter member 200 is pushed down to the posture shown in FIG. Accordingly, the shutter member 200 rotates and the shutter opening 207 is connected to the developer discharge port 148, that is, the shutter member 200 is in the open posture with the developer discharge port 148 opened.

  The developer discharged from the developer discharge port 148 to the outside of the developing device 14 falls into the waste toner conveying cylinder 306 having a hollow cylindrical shape inside. The waste toner collected by the photoreceptor cleaner 16 (see FIG. 1) also flows into the waste toner conveying cylinder 306, and the waste toner collected from the intermediate transfer belt 30 by the belt cleaner 70 (see FIG. 1). Also flows in. The waste toner and developer that have flowed into the waste toner transport cylinder 306 are transported in the direction of arrow i by a transport member (not shown) disposed in the waste toner transport cylinder 306 to be discharged into the waste toner tank 303. To be recovered. When the waste toner tank 303 becomes full, the user replaces it with an empty waste toner tank 303.

  In the above description, the shutter member 200 that opens and closes the developer discharge port 148 by changing the posture by rotation is exemplified as the opening and closing member according to the present invention. However, the opening and closing member according to the present invention is formed by movement of the entire member. You may open and close a discharge way. In the case of the cylindrical shutter member 200 illustrated above, the opening / closing operation may be the rotation in the illustrated circumferential direction, the movement in the extending direction of the cylinder, or the combined movement thereof. Good. Note that changing the posture of the opening / closing member is preferable because it requires less operating space than changing the position. In other words, the movement of the opening / closing member means that the position (posture) is set so as to reach a closed position (closed posture) where the discharge passage is closed and an open position (open posture) where the discharge passage is opened. It is a movement to change.

  In the above description, the inner wall and the outer wall having a circular cross section are exemplified as the inner wall and the outer wall according to the present invention. However, the inner wall and the outer wall according to the present invention may be flat. In addition, it is preferable that the inner wall and the outer wall referred to in the present invention are convex downward and the opening of the discharge passage is formed in the convex portion, because the powder gathers in the discharge passage by its own weight.

  In the above description, an example applied to a developing device is shown as an embodiment of the powder container of the present invention. However, the powder container of the present invention temporarily stores the collected waste toner inside. It may be a belt cleaner or a photoconductor cleaner that is housed and discharged to a collection box, or a toner cartridge.

  In the above description, a so-called tandem color printer is illustrated as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. However, the image forming apparatus of the present invention may be, for example, a revolver type color printer. It may be a monochrome printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Image forming part, 11 ... Photoconductor, 14 ... Developing device,
140 …… Case, 141 …… First chamber, 141a …… The most upstream part of the first chamber,
141b …… Inner wall, 141c …… Outer wall, 142 …… Second chamber, 143 …… Partition wall,
144 …… Supply auger, 144a …… Rotating shaft, 144b, 144c …… Spiral blade, 145 …… Admix auger, 145a …… Rotating shaft, 145b …… Spiral blade,
146... Development roll 147. Toner supply port 148. Developer discharge port
148a …… Inner wall opening, 148b …… Outer wall opening, 200 …… Shutter member,
207... Shutter opening 306. Waste toner conveying cylinder 320. Inner wall seal member 330. Outer wall seal member

Claims (5)

A storage chamber containing powder inside;
A discharge passage through the wall of the storage chamber to discharge the powder;
An inner wall forming the inner surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
An outer wall forming an outer surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
An opening and closing member that is located between the inner wall and the outer wall, and that opens and closes the discharge passage by moving along the inner wall and the outer wall;
A powder container characterized by comprising: The opening / closing member has an opening located between the opening of the inner wall and the opening of the outer wall when the discharge passage is opened;
In the state where the opening of the inner wall is smaller than the opening of the opening / closing member, the opening of the outer wall is larger than the opening of the opening / closing member, and the discharge passage is open, each of the openings is viewed in the direction passing through the discharge passage. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein edges of the openings do not intersect each other.   The powder container according to claim 1, further comprising a blocking member that blocks the powder from entering between the opening / closing member and the inner wall. A storage chamber that stores therein a powdery developer for developing the latent image;
A discharge passage penetrating the wall of the storage chamber and discharging the developer;
An inner wall forming the inner surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
An outer wall forming an outer surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
An opening and closing member that is located between the inner wall and the outer wall, and that opens and closes the discharge passage by moving along the inner wall and the outer wall;
A developing device comprising: An image carrier that forms an image on the surface and holds the image;
A latent image forming device for forming a latent image on the surface of the image carrier;
A developing device for developing the latent image with a powdery developer;
A transfer unit that transfers the image developed by the developing unit onto the recording material from the image carrier,
The developer is
A storage chamber containing the developer therein;
A discharge passage penetrating the wall of the storage chamber and discharging the developer;
An inner wall forming the inner surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
An outer wall forming an outer surface of the wall and having an opening in the discharge passage;
An opening and closing member that is located between the inner wall and the outer wall, and that opens and closes the discharge passage by moving along the inner wall and the outer wall;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images